Category: New Japan News

NJPW Strong results: Tom Lawlor vs. Lio Rush

Posted on by Justin Knipper

Tonight marked the final night of NJoA’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour.

JR Kratos defeated Fred Yehi

Solid opener. Kratos worked over Yehi for most of this match. Kratos launched Yehi across from corner to corner with a vertical suplex. The story was Yehi kept trying to take Kratos off of his feet but he couldn’t do it until late in the match, when he landed two rolling German suplexes on the larger Kratos.

The finish came when Yehi had Kratos trapped in a triangle choke, but Kratos reversed it into a deadlift wheelbarrow power bomb for the win in 9:02.

Chris Dickinson defeated Royce Isaacs via submission

The story so far between these two links back to STRONG Openweight champion Tom Lawlor and his Team Filthy group. When Dickinson was still in Team Filthy, he challenged Lawlor to a match for Lawlor’s title. Lawlor answered by not only kicking Dickinson out of Team Filthy but ambushing him and recruiting the West Coast Wrecking Crew to take his place in the gang. A babyface Dickinson is out for vengeance on all of Team Filthy now.

The match itself was very good. They went hold for hold early until Dickinson shut Isaacs down with hard mid-kicks and a spinning heel kick coming off the ropes. Isaacs pushed the ref at one point, when Dickinson had Isaacs in a waist lock. In a moment behind the ref’s back, Isaacs shoved Lawlor into the cornerpost, shoulder-first, then drilled him with a back suplex.

Isaacs controlled much of the next part of this match. Dickinson scored a Death Valley Bomb as Isaacs went for a leapfrog. Dickinson scored a two-count, so he transitioned to an armbar, which Isaacs countered and reversed into a Texas Cloverleaf until Dickinson made it to the ropes for a break. Dickinson would soon tap Isaacs out with an STF in 11:08. Again, a really good match.

Backstage, Dickinson accused ex-best friend Isaacs of being a snake and that he would “cut the head off of the snake”. Dickinson thanked the audience that came to the taping that night before exiting.

STRONG Openweight Championship: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (with JR Kratos) defeated Lio Rush via TKO to retain the title

Lawlor feigned engaging with Rush, then slid to the floor. Jay White does this all the time. Lawlor conferred with Kratos for a minute or so before Rush decided to break up the strategy session with a baseball slide dropkick through the bottom ropes. Rush jumped on Lawlor’s back and locked on a sleeper hold until Lawlor escaped. He went back to the floor to recover, but Rush was able to run him and Team Filthy associate Kratos into each other. This was a rare time where a wrestler came off looking clever instead of clueless.

Rush launched into Lawlor with low kicks. When Rush came off the middle rope, Lawlor caught him and slammed him into the red corner, then gave him a front uranage drop, spiking Rush. He locked in a guillotine choke that he turned into a cravat at around five minutes in.

Lawlor planted Rush with an exploder suplex. The crowd chanted for Rush. Rush tried firing up but Lawlor chopped the hell out of him in the corner. Rush wouldn’t let up. He went for a standing frog splash but Lawlor caught him in a triangle choke. He’d move into a single-leg crab next, until Rush escaped via rope break. Ten minutes had elapsed at this point in the match.

Rush was able to knock Lawlor onto the floor and take him out with a running suicide dive through the bottom two ropes. He was picking up momentum when Kratos grabbed him and went to press slam him. The referee saw it and ordered Kratos to let go or else he’d disqualify Lawlor. Kratos obliged, but Rush threw a shot at Kratos, which upset him. He grabbed Rush by the throat and again threatened violence, until ref Jeremy Marcus ejected Kratos from ringside. The audience sang “Na-na-na na, hey hey hey, goodbye!” as he exited.

The match heated up from here. Rush scored a close nearfall after a roll-up. He spiked Lawlor with a reverse frankensteiner, then caught him with a frog splash from the top rope for another close nearfall. The crowd was really into him. In a lot of ways, Lawlor and Rush are a babyface-heel pair made for each other.

Rush went back to the rear naked choke that he locked on Lawlor at the top of the match. Lawlor struggled out of it, then laid Rush out with a spinning Funaki tombstone, then locked in his own rear naked choke until Rush passed out. Referee Jeremy Marcus called the match; “Filthy” Tom Lawlor retained the STRONG Openweight title in 16:19.

Lawlor was in the ring with mic after Rush had left. He told the crowd to give it up for Rush, whom he called a worthy opponent. They chanted for him. Lawlor then put out another open challenge for his championship and wondered aloud whether it’d be a Young Lion or possibly a “scrub from another company.” Lawlor assumed no one would come to the ring to challenge him, so started posing with the belt for the crowd.

Ren Narita came out next and got right into Lawlor’s face. They were nose to nose. Lawlor shoved Narita a few times but he no-sold it, then gave Lawlor a hard index-finger point that really reminded me of Katsuyori Shibata in terms of body language.

“I already beat you before I was champion . . . and I’ve only gotten stronger since.” Lawlor downplayed Narita’s short career and told him to go back and train with Shibata for longer and maybe then he’d be ready for a shot at Lawlor’s Openweight title. Narita didn’t say anything. Then, suddenly, he kicked Lawlor in the face, a high kick that again looked like it came directly out of his trainer Shibata’s playbook. Narita dropped the belt over Lawlor, who was completely laid out, then left.

Final thoughts:

Tonight’s main event truly felt like a main event. I don’t think many believed Rush would actually win the STRONG Openweight title, but the two were able to have a match that came pretty close to making you believe that maybe Rush could have eked out a win against Lawlor. Narita came off looking stronger than ever in his brief appearance with Lawlor, and I imagine they’ll tear the roof off the venue when they do have their bout. The openers were very good, but after watching over a year of NJPW Strong I can say with confidence that that is par for the course.

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night eight results: Tanahashi vs. SANADA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today at Hamamatsu Arena.

Hiroshi Tanahashi faced SANADA in the main event, while Kazuchika Okada took on Hirooki Goto in the semi-main. 

YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi, EVIL vs. Chase Owens, plus Jeff Cobb vs. Tama Tonga were the other tournament matches today. 

Yoshinobu Kanemaru faced Ryohei Oiwa in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA

Report —

Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Ryohei Oiwa (7:36)

Small sample size, but I think Oiwa is the better of the two Young Lions in this class. 

Oiwa attacked Kanemaru before the opening bell to get this show started off right. Oiwa used a side headlock. Kanemaru sent Oiwa to the floor and worked over his legs to set up the finish. 

Back inside, Kanemaru continued the leg work. Oiwa tried a belly-to-belly, but Kanemaru blocked with a face rake. Oiwa hit a great dropkick and tried to get Kanemaru over for a crab, but Kanemaru blocked. 

Kanemaru hit his own dropkick, then used a single-leg crab. He transitioned to a figure four for the submission. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (12:47)

Once they got into teasing finishers this was very good. A very good closing stretch. 

The first half of the match was all Cobb, to the point where it dragged a bit. I always talk about the Ricky Steamboat rule of fighting from underneath, where the underdog can’t let the aggressor hit more than two consecutive moves without throwing in a hope spot. I think that applied here.

Cobb quickly established the advantage with a belly-to-belly throw. Tonga rolled outside. Cobb went out after him and pounded on his lower back with strikes. Back in the ring, Cobb hit a stalling vertical suplex for an early near fall. 

Cobb used a waistlock on the mat and some combination strikes in the corner. Tonga avoided a pillar to post and hit a dropkick, then guillotine grip to drop Cobb with a DDT. Tonga hit a neckbreaker. 

Cobb blocked a splash in the corner and tried his own, but Tonga escaped and then hit his splash. Tonga hit a death valley driver for a two count. Cobb hit a backdrop out of a powerbomb attempt and followed with a dropkick. 

Cobb hit a standing moonsault. Tonga blocked Tour of the Islands and hit a Tongan Twist and a frog splash for a two count. 

Cobb blocked a Gun Stun. They traded superkicks. Cobb blocked another Gun Stun attempt and hit a release German, then followed with Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

B Block: EVIL defeated Chase Owens (12:38)

EVIL can’t have a good match with this gimmick and these patterned matches. It’s not possible. 

EVIL asked Owens to lay down for him. Owens declined and slapped EVIL across the face. So the match was on, unfortunately. 

Owens made a point of telling Togo not to get involved, but he did. They did all the Bullet Club EVIL spots. EVIL bumped the ring announcer. They exposed a turnbuckle. Togo choked Owens with his ligature while EVIL took the referee. 

Togo took the ref, EVIL hit a low blow and Everything is EVIL for the pin. 

B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (22:26)

They tried to have an intense brawl as the sparse crowd politely sat there in silence. This was a struggle. People like YOSHI-HASHI. The NEVER Six-Man titles have become the most prestigious titles in wrestling while he has held them. Long singles matches are not his strength.

Taichi hit a forearm strike before the bell and they brawled to the floor. Taichi threw the referee aside and taunted YH with his own title belt. Both used the barricade and hit strikes on the floor. 

YH fought to the ropes out of a stretch plum from Taichi. YH ducked an axe bomber and hit a dragon suplex. YH hit a lariat and the kumagoroshi for a near fall. 

YH escaped Black Mephisto and got the butterfly lock applied. He transitioned to a sleeper as Taichi tried to fight to the ropes. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex to break the hold as the crowd finally woke up near the 20 minute call.

Taichi hit a huge gamengiri. YH blocked Black Mephisto and hit a destroyer for a two count. YH blocked a high kick and hit a lariat. YH then hit Kharma for the pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hirooki Goto (18:06)

Okada was excellent here. He worked more heelish than he normally does, using some subtle facial expressions and things of that nature. He also did a great job of selling the cumulative damage of the tournament to his arms and neck. The lack of crowd reaction hurt this match too, though.

Okada broke cleanly in the ropes after the first lockup. Goto did not break cleanly against the ropes on the second lockup. They did some chain wrestling. Goto hit a clothesline, sending Okada to the floor. Goto threw Okada right back in. 

Goto used a chinlock. Okada hit a flapjack five minutes in. Okada sent Goto into the barricade and hit a DDT on the floor for a countout tease. Back in, Okada hit a sliding dropkick. They exchanged strikes. Goto ducked a boot and hit a lariat. Goto hit his heel kick in the corner and bulldog at the 10 minute call. 

They brawled to the floor as the niceties were dispensed with. Back inside, Okada hit a dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip, but Goto forced a rope break. Goto avoided a top rope elbow attempt and a shotgun dropkick attempt. Goto hit a neckbreaker for a two count 15 minutes in. 

Goto hit a lariat, a mid kick and an ushigoroshi for a near fall. Okada blocked a GTR and hit a clothesline into a double down. Goto ducked a Rainmaker, but ran into an Okada dropkick. 

Okada hit a tombstone. Goto ducked another Rainmaker attempt and used a leg sweep for a two count. Okada escaped an ushigoroshi attempt. Goto blocked a spinning Rainmaker and hit a reverse GTR. 

Okada ducked a spinning lariat, hit a backdrop, then sat down into a cradle and got the flash pin. 

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA (25:35)

This was a great main event. The story of the bout was that they were evenly matched. Neither held a significant advantage for any length of time. One would attack the legs, the other would counter attack the legs. 

Tanahashi had the slight edge in the opening mat wrestling sequence. Tana tried the paradise lock, but he couldn’t figure it out and SANADA but Tana in the hold instead. SANADA played some air guitar. 

SANADA used a head scissors on the mat, but Tana rolled to the ropes. Tana fired up and hit the first real strikes of the match at the 10 minute call. Tana hit a flying forearm, a scoop slam and a somersault senton for a two count. 

SANADA reversed a whip into the corner, but Tana fired out with a basement dropkick to the knee. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee. They traded dragon screws. Both ended up going for a dragon screw at the same time. They agreed to put each other down, but SANADA didn’t keep his promise and hit another dragon screw. 

SANADA hit a backbreaker and a plancha. Tana caught SANADA coming back into the ring and hit a dropkick to the right leg and two dragon screws in the ropes. Tana fought for the Texas Clover Hold, but SANADA got to the ropes. Tana hit another dragon screw instead. 

SANADA tried to block a slingblade with a rana, but Tana blocked the rana to set up the Texas Clover Hold. This was a great spot. SANADA made the ropes for a break. Tanahashi hit a plancha. Tanahashi was really trying to get the crowd into it, putting his hand to his ear and clapping. 

Tana blocked a magic screw attempt and hit two twist and shouts, but SANADA held on and got the magic screw. SANADA used a TKO threat to set up Skull End, but Tana reversed into his own dragon sleeper. SANADA kicked out of the hold. 

SANADA hit a springboard dropkick at the 20 minute call. SANADA hit the TKO for a two count. SANADA rolled through on a moonsault attempt. They stumbled as SANADA set up a spinning Skull End. Tana hit another twist and shout. 

Tanahashi hit slingblade for a near fall. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He tried a standard High Fly Flow, but SANADA got his knees up. SANADA tried a moonsault, but Tana got his knees up. 

They traded forearms. Tana hit a slap. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a two count. Tana used an O’Connor roll to hit a dragon suplex into a bridge for a two count. 

Tana then went back up top and hit a High Fly Flow to get the victory. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night nine, Sunday, Ocotber 3, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • A Block: Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • A Block: KENTA vs. Great-O-Khan
  • BUSHI vs. Toru Yano
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night seven results: Shingo vs. KENTA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today at Korakuen Hall. 

Shingo Takagi faced KENTA in the main event, while Kota Ibushi took on Toru Yano in the semi-main. 

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa were the other tournament matches today. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa

Report —

Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) defeated BUSHI (13:01)

When you look at the lineup and you see Yano in the semi-main, you can bet on everything else getting a few extra minutes. This went too long as a result. 

BUSHI hit a dropkick before the bell for the jumpstart, then threw Yujiro into the barricade. Yujiro used Pieter as a human shield to stop BUSHI from attempting a dive and used the distraction to drag BUSHI to the floor. Yujiro sent BUSHI into the security fence and took control of the bout. 

Yujiro worked BUSHI over in a dull manner. BUSHI came back with a basement dropkick and a suicide dive. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Yujiro bit BUSHI’s hand to halt the momentum. Yujiro went for Miami Shine, but BUSHI blocked and hit a backstabber. 

BUSHI went for an MX, but Yujiro caught him with a lariat. They exchanged forearm strikes. Yujiro hit a big boot. BUSHI hit a dropkick. Yujiro hit another lariat and an Angle slam for a two count. 

BUSHI blocked a Pimp Juice attempt and cradled Yujiro for a near fall. Yujiro blocked a codebreaker and hit Big Juice for the pin. 

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (16:18)

Really good match. Ishii will probably end up MVP of the G1 again. His worst match so far was with Kota Ibushi of all people. The sons of Haku continue to deliver in the tournament so far as well. 

Loa rolled outside after a quick strike exchange kicked things off. He climbed back in and they got the crowd into the match with a long series of strikes exchanged. Loa got the best of the sequence. Ishii rolled outside. Loa sent him into the barricade, then posted his back. 

Back in, Loa used a chinlock and elbows to the head. Loa hit an exploder and Ishii sold his back big. Ishii answered with chops in the corner, a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex. Loa hit a neckbreaker to cut him off. 

Loa no-sold a German suplex and hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Loa used the OJK, but Ishii made the ropes. Ishii blocked a powerbomb and hit a backdrop. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count. 

Ishii tried to set up a sliding lariat, but Loa popped up and hit a dropkick. Loa hit a massive lariat and a top rope diving headbutt for a near fall. Loa hit a spear and a sit-out powerbomb for a good near fall. 

Ishii escaped Apesh*t and hit an enzuigiri and a lariat for a two count. They traded lariats, but neither went down. Ishii hit a headbutt. Loa again avoided the sliding lariat. 

Ishii escaped Apesh*t a second time and hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Great-O-Khan (15:26)

This was unique and excellent if you like Sabre matches. They did almost exclusively technical wrestling and it felt like a real contest. This might have been the best match of O-Khan’s career. 

They spent the first eight minutes of the match trading holds on the mat. O-Khan ended up bleeding from the nose. 

Sabre fired off a couple of forearms, but O-Khan dropped Sabre with one Mongolian chop. O-Khan used two more Mongolian chops to drop Sabre a second time. Sabre sold losing feeling in his right arm after the chops to the neck. 

Sabre used an octopus. O-Khan reversed into an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into a heel hook. O-Khan reversed. Sabre forced a rope break. Sabre blocked a gutwrench throw and took O-Khan’s back with a choke. Sabre used a crucifix for a two count. 

Sabre hit a penalty kick, but O-Khan kicked out at one. Sabre avoided the claw and went for a tornado DDT, but O-Khan blocked and used a cobra twist with the iron claw applied as well. O-Khan transitioned to the sheep killer. O-Khan slipped to a modified torture rack, then gave up the hold. 

O-Khan went for the Eliminator at the 15 minute mark, but Sabre locked on a standing triangle. O-Khan didn’t submit, but the referee called for the stoppage with O-Khan unable to improve his position. 

A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano (4:03)

This was total comedy. 

Yano put a bag over Ibushi’s head and rolled him up for two near falls. Yano then rolled Ibushi up in the ring skirt and tried to steal a countout, but Ibushi freed himself and made it back in. 

Ibushi hit a dropkick and a plancha. Yano tried to tape Ibushi to the apron, but Ibushi kicked him away and Yano was almost counted out. Ibushi blocked a low blow. Yano used another cradle for a near fall. 

Ibushi hit a Kamigoye to the back, a Bomaye, then hit a standard Kamigoye for the pin. 

A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated KENTA (23:56)

A very good main event. Not match of the tournament or anything, but a solid match with good storytelling.

They traded strikes and shoulder tackle attempts. Shingo hit a slam and a senton. KENTA blocked a diving forearm attempt and used Game Over on Shingo’s taped right arm, but Shingo forced a rope break.

Shingo rolled outside and KENTA posted his right arm. KENTA kicked the right arm as it was draped over the barricade. Back inside, KENTA kicked at the arm and used a Fujiwara armbar. KENTA exposed a turnbuckle and whipped Shingo’s arm into it. 

KENTA continued working on the arm. Shingo grabbed a chinlock, but got backed into the exposed buckle. Shingo hit a couple of strikes and a DDT. He continued firing off strikes with the right arm, selling it after each strike. Shingo blocked a swing DDT and hit a lariat with his left arm. 

Shingo hit a vertical suplex and a sliding lariat with the right arm. He continued to sell the arm, then covered for a near fall. KENTA fought off Made in Japan and hit a swing DDT across the top rope. KENTA hit a top rope clothesline for a two count. 

KENTA hit a DDT for another near fall. Shingo blocked a draping DDT attempt and they fought to the apron. Shingo teased Made in Japan off the apron, but KENTA slid out and dropped Shingo’s right arm across the top rope. 

They battled on the floor. KENTA hit the green killer DDT off the apron to the floor. Shingo made it back in after a countout tease. KENTA hit a running kick and a stalling dropkick in the corner. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top to the bad arm for a near fall. 

Shingo blocked a GTS attempt. KENTA hit a knee strike and tried it again. Shingo blocked and hit a pop-up DVD into a double down at the 15 minute call. 

They traded forearms. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes. Shingo hit a headbutt. KENTA hit a spinning backfist. Shingo blocked a kick and hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo hit a top rope superplex. 

Shingo tried a lariat in the corner, but KENTA pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump and rolled to the floor. KENTA hit a low blow and a divorce court. KENTA Pillman-ized Shingo’s right arm. 

KENTA dragged the ref back in at 20 minutes and locked on Game Over, but Shingo got his foot across the bottom rope to force a break. KENTA hit a running knee strike. He teased a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo cut him off with a lariat. 

Shingo escaped another GTS attempt and hit a dragon suplex and a diving forearm strike. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber with his bad arm, but KENTA kicked out. 

KENTA slipped out of one Last of the Dragon attempt and tried to send Shingo into the buckle, but Shingo sent KENTA into the buckle instead. Shingo then hit Last of the Dragon to get the pin.

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night eight, Friday, Ocotber 1, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA
  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hirooki Goto
  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi
  • B Block: EVIL vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Jeff Cobb vs. Tama Tonga
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Ryohei Oiwa 

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night six results: Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Kazuchika Okada took on YOSHI-HASHI in the main event, while Hiroshi Tanahashi faced Tama Tonga in the semi-main. 

Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb, SANADA vs. Chase Owens, plus EVIL vs. Taichi were the other tournament matches today. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Hirooki Goto

Report —

B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (11:30)

They had EVIL’s patterned match. It was short and it was the opener. 

Taichi kicked Togo before the opening bell and sent EVIL outside. He tried to choke EVIL with a camera cable, but Togo distracted him. Taichi chased Togo into the ring, where EVIL hit him with a lariat to take over. EVIL whipped Taichi into an exposed turnbuckle. 

EVIL bumped Taichi into the barricade and the ring announcer took a bump. Taichi came back with a hook kick. They brawled back to the floor. Taichi bumped EVIL into the barricade and the ring announcer took his second bump of the night. 

EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Taichi blocked the STO and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Taichi hit an axe bomber and tore off his pants. Taichi hit a gamengiri off a series of standing switches. 

They threw the ref aside. EVIL tried a low blow, but Taichi blocked and hit a low blow. Taichi used a clutch for a pin attempt, but Togo took the ref. Taichi sent EVIL into Togo and hit another jumping high kick and a backdrop suplex for a near fall. 

Togo grabbed Miho Abe on the outside and distracted Taichi and the ref. EVIL hit a low blow to Taichi, then hit Everything is EVIL. He then used the scorpion deathlock. Taichi was out, so the ref called for the stoppage. 

B Block: SANADA defeated Chase Owens (11:58)

This was good. Owens has been good in the tournament to this point, but he has no credibility after being treated as a comedy job guy for years. 

After a couple of quick comedy spots, SANADA sent Owens outside. SANADA teased a plancha, but Owens stepped out of the way and tripped SANADA up on the apron. Owens sent SANADA into the barricade for a countout tease, but SANADA made it back in. 

Owens stretched SANADA with a surfboard. SANADA came back with a basement dropkick and a paradise lock. He sent Owens outside with a snap rana, but Owens again avoided the plancha and sent SANADA into the barricade. Owens hit a shoulder breaker and a lariat for a two count. 

SANADA hit a springboard dropkick and a TKO for a two count. He rolled through on a moonsault, then got a standing Skull End applied. Owens slipped out and hit a top rope cutter and a shining wizard. 

Owens grabbed the ref as SANADA executed an O’Connor roll and threw him down. SANADA covered, but no ref to count the pin. 

Owens hit a pump kick. He went for the package driver, but SANADA rolled through. Owens blocked another O’Connor roll and used two cradles for near falls. 

SANADA used Skull End, then hit a moonsault for the pin. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Hirooki Goto (15:09)

This was an excellent brawl. 

Goto sent Cobb outside and posted his left arm. Goto continued working on the arm. He tried a wheel kick after a whip into the corner, but Cobb caught him coming in and launched him with a throw. 

Cobb continued tossing Goto around the ring with throws. Cobb hit his chop and clothesline combinations in the corner. He teased a standing moonsault, but Goto got up and fired a few strikes. Cobb dropped Goto and tried the moonsault, but Goto rolled out of the way. 

Goto made his comeback and hit a spinning kick and a bulldog for a two count. Cobb blocked an ushigoroshi attempt and hit a dropkick. Cobb hit a back suplex and a standing moonsault for a two count. 

They traded strikes. Cobb hit the ropes and ran right into an ushigoroshi. Goto dodged a kick and hit a lariat. Cobb blocked a GTR, but Goto hit a belly-to-belly. Goto used a cross armbreaker, but Cobb forced a rope break. 

Cobb fought out of a hammerlock and hit a thrust kick. Cobb ducked a lariat. Goto escaped a powerslam attempt. Cobb reversed a bulldog attempt into a spin cycle. Cobb hit a German. Goto escaped a Tour of the Islands and used a leg sweep for a two count. 

Goto used a GTR and a lariat for a two count. He went for another GTR, but Cobb blocked. Goto hit a headbutt, but Cobb popped up and hit his own headbutt. 

Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (14:17)

These guys got every ounce out of everything that they did, which was not a lot. The story of the match was Tonga continually trying for the Gun Stun. When he finally hit it, he didn’t cover right away and it cost him the match. 

They started with trading side headlocks. Tana blocked two Gun Stun attempts. Tana hit a senton for a two count, but Tonga reversed into a crucifix for his own near fall. Tonga snapped Tana’s neck across the top rope to get the heat. 

Tonga worked a sleeper hold, then a Tongan death grip. Tanahashi caught a kick and teased a dragon screw, but then used the death grip himself. Tana then hit a dragon screw. Tanahashi fought for a Texas Clover Hold, but Tonga escaped and used the death grip again. 

Tonga missed a splash in the corner. Tanahashi missed with slingblade, allowing Tonga to hit a Tongan Twist for a two count. Tonga hit slingblade, then hit his own version of the High Fly Flow for a sweet near fall. 

Tanahashi blocked a Gun Stun. They fought for position as Tonga tried a Tongan Twist and Tanahashi went for twist and shout. Tana won out and hit twist and shout and a slingblade. 

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for a second, but Tonga rolled out of the way. Tonga popped up and hit a Gun Stun, but he could not cover right away. 

Tonga eventually made the cover, but Tanahashi kicked out at two, then slid to a crucifix for the flash pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI (26:53)

Chris Charlton gave a great history lesson on commentary about the history between these two before the match to set the stage. 

They know each other super well, and that was the story of the match. They had to fight for every bit of offense. The pacing was slow for that reason, but everything made sense. 

They locked up. Okada teased hitting YH on the break, but YH struck first. They brawled to the floor. YH sent Okada into the barricade. Okada came back with two DDTs on the floor and another in the ring. 

YH came back with a headhunter, a neckbreaker and a blockbuster. YH got a butterfly lock applied, but Okada forced a break. Okada used the Money Clip. YH tried to fight to the ropes, but Okada pulled him back to the center and re-applied. They did a long ref stoppage tease, but YH snapped to life and reached the ropes for a break. They were past 15 minutes at this point. 

Okada hit a top rope elbow and the Rainmaker pose. YH ducked the Rainmaker and hit a chop. Okada blocked a thrust kick, then rolled through on a whip attempt and hit two Rainmakers. 

Okada went for a third Rainmaker, but YH hit his own Rainmaker into a double down. 

YH avoided a tombstone and hit a dragon suplex. Okada missed a dropkick. YH hit a meteora for a two count just past the 20 minute call. Okada ducked one lariat, but YH hit a clothesline on the rebound. YH hit a kumagoroshi for a two count. 

YH went back to the butterfly lock. As Okada tried to scoot to the ropes, YH transitioned to a sleeper, then hit a backstabber. YH again used the butterfly lock, then again slipped to a sleeper hold. YH tried to hit Kharma out of the sleeper, but Okada hit a spinning tombstone. 

YH avoided a shotgun dropkick. YH hit a clothesline in the corner at 25 minutes. YH missed a senton bomb off the top. Okada hit a dropkick to the back, then another to the front. 

YH ducked a Rainmaker and cradled Okada for two. YH blocked another Rainmaker attempt and hit a thrust kick. Okada blocked a dragon suplex. 

Okada hit landslide, then used another Rainmaker for the pin. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night seven, Thursday, September 30, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA
  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano
  • A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa
  • BUSHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Four matches added to NJPW Strong Showdown, Ariya Daivari to debut

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has added four matches to the Showdown tapings in Philadelphia on October 16 and October 17. 

Former WWE talent Ariya Daivari will be debuting for the promotion, wrestling on both nights of the tapings. On night one, he will face Alex Zayne in a singles match. On night two, he will tag with Lio Rush against Bullet Club’s El Phantasmo and Chris Bey. 

New United Empire member TJP will team with Will Ospreay on night one against Ren Narita and Clark Connors. TJP joined Ospreay’s group at this past weekend’s Autumn Attack tapings in Texas. 

Also added, Jay White will team with Hikuleo against Fred Yehi and Wheeler Yuta on night two. 

Both nights of tapings will take place at the 2300 Arena. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

Here are the announced lineups so far:

NJPW Strong Showdown night one, Saturday, October 16, 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA —

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Chris Dickinson
  • Juice Robinson vs. El Phantasmo
  • Jay White vs. Fred Yehi
  • Will Ospreay & TJP vs. Ren Narita & Clark Connors
  • Ariya Daivari vs. Alex Zayne

NJPW Strong Showdown night two, Sunday, October 17, 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA —

  • Street fight: Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Will Ospreay vs. Alex Zayne
  • Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Coughlin
  • Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, Rocky Romero, Ren Narita & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson & Danny Limelight
  • Jay White & Hikuleo vs. Fred Yehi & Wheeler Yuta
  • Lio Rush & Ariya Daivari vs. El Phantasmo & Chris Bey

Lawlor vs. Rush Openweight title match announced for NJPW Strong

Posted on by Ethan Renner

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor will defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against Lio Rush on this week’s Strong episode. 

NJPW made the announcement tonight. The match will be Lawlor’s fourth defense of the title. 

In the second match, former Team Filthy member Chris Dickinson will take on current Filthy ally Royce Isaacs of the West Coast Wrecking Crew. 

In the opener, Fred Yehi will take on Team Filthy’s JR Kratos. 

The Fighting Spirit Unleashed episodes of Strong were taped on Monday, August 16 in Long Beach, California at Thunder Studios and were the first Strong shows taped in front of fans.

Strong airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday on NJPW World. The show will also be available on demand immediately following airing. 

Here is Saturday’s full lineup:

NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Saturday, October 2, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor (c) vs. Lio Rush
  • Chris Dickinson vs. Royce Isaacs
  • Fred Yehi vs. JR Kratos

NJPW Strong spoilers: Suzuki & Archer team, White vs. Garcia

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW held night two of their Autumn Attack tapings for Strong on Sunday in Garland, Texas. 

Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer teamed against Team Fithy’s Tom Lawlor and Royce ISaacs in the main event. Also on the show, Juice Robinson faced Hikuleo in a bullrope match. 

On the undercard, NEVER Openweight Champion “Switchblade” Jay White was in action against Daniel Garcia. 

Below are results. 

Thanks to Trae Wisecarver.

NJPW Strong Autumn Attack night two —

Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer defeated Tom Lawlor & Royce Isaacs 

Suzuki pinned Isaacs after a Gotch-style Piledriver. 

Lio Rush defeated Taiji Ishimori

Rush pinned Ishimori after hitting a frog splash. 

Bullrope match: Juice Robinson defeated Hikuleo

Robinson choked out Hikuleo with the bullrope.

Will Ospreay & TJP defeated Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors

TJP pinned Connors with a schoolboy. 

Jay White defeated Daniel Garcia

White pinned Garcia after hitting a Blade Runner. 

Robbie Eagles & Chris Dickinson defeated El Phantasmo & Chris Bey

Eagles won by submission, using the Ron Miller Special on Bey. 

Fred Rosser & Rocky Romero defeated JR Kratos & Danny Limelight 

Rosser pinned Limelight after hitting an Emerald Frosion. 

Ryusuke Taguchi, Ren Narita, Alex Coughlin, Kevin Knight & The DKC defeated David Finlay, Fred Yehi, Wheeler Yuta, Will Allday & Brogan Finlay

Narita used a Boston crab to submit Brogan. 

Yuya Uemura defeated Barrett Brown

Uemura won by pinfall after a Kaneki. 

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night five results: Ibushi vs. Sabre

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today at Kobe World Hall. 

Kota Ibushi took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii faced KENTA in the semi-main. 

Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Tanga Loa vs. Toru Yano were the other tournament matches today. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match, while Master Wato took on Kosei Fujita in the opener. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report —

Master Wato defeated Kosei Fujita (6:21)

I’m not an anti-Wato guy, I think some of his stuff is good, but these Young Lion openers probably benefit him as much as Fujita and Oiwa. Wato could use the ring time and practice on fundamentals. 

Wato got the best of a brief chain wrestling sequence, then took control with kicks. Fujita hit a great desperation dropkick to create separation and locked on a crab, but Wato fought to the ropes. 

Wato hit a backdrop and used a Boston crab for the submission. 

Shingo Takagi defeated Yuji Nagata (16:51)

This was terrific. 

Shingo had his right arm taped up, selling the damage from his match with Sabre last week. 

They began by trading holds, then traded strikes. Shingo hit a knee lift and backed Nagata into the ropes. They slipped to the apron. Each teased a move on the apron, but Nagata jumped to the floor. Shingo tried a diving chop off the apron, but Nagata caught him and hit an exploder on the floor to take control of the match. 

Back inside, Nagata began targeting the arms. He wrenched on the left arm, then the taped right arm. Nagata hit kicks to the arms, then barred the left arm. Shingo forced  a break, then hit a vertical suplex.

Shingo caught a kick attempt and hit a DVD. Nagata hit a knee strike and caught Shingo in a Nagata Lock. Nagata transitioned to pin attempt, but Shingo kicked out. Shingo hit a dragon screw. 

Nagata fought off a figure four attempt, then caught a sliding lariat attempt and slapped on another variation of the Nagata Lock. Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Nagata hit the Justice knee in the corner. Shingo tried to fight off a superplex, but Nagata hit a top rope exploder for a near fall. 

Shingo blocked a back suplex and dumped Nagata on his neck with a back suplex. Shingo hit a lariat. Nagata countered with a back suplex. They traded forearm blows. Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Shingo answered with an immediate sliding lariat. 

Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall, then used Last of the Dragon to score the pin. 

Shingo cut a promo after the match and promised to deliver Shingo vs. Naito as soon as possible. That was the originally scheduled main event for tonight before Naito’s knee forced him to withdraw from G1.

A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (14:15)

This lacked intensity and the pacing was slow, but it was better than I expected. 

O-Khan wanted to amateur wrestle on the mat, but Yujiro didn’t want any part of that. They brawled to the floor. Yujiro used his walking stick on O-Khan on the ramp to take over. O-Khan made it back in after a countout tease. 

Yujiro used a legdrop, a slam and another legdrop for a pair of near falls. O-Khan came back with a back suplex, then tied Yujiro to the tree of woe and hit a sliding dropkick. They traded chops. O-Khan hit a belly-to-belly to set up a head and arm choke, but Yujiro forced a break. 

Yujiro hit a fisherman buster and an Angle slam for a two count. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for another near fall. O-Khan blocked Pimp Juice. Yujiro escaped the Eliminator and hit a lariat for a two count. 

O-Khan escaped Big Juice and used a sheep killer to set up the Eliminator for the pin.  

A Block: Toru Yano defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (10:46)

They didn’t go full comedy or full serious match with this one and the result was a bad mix of both. 

Yano produced a bag before the opening bell. The referee emptied the bag and it was full of handcuffs and rolls of tape. 

Loa got the better of a striking battle. Loa pulled Yano’s shirt over his head and tried to win by countout, but Yano beat the count back in. 

They traded suplexes for near falls. They had a plodding brawl. Yano exposed a buckle. Loa used the OJK, but Yano rolled to the ropes. Yano cradled Loa for two. Loa used a cradle for a near fall.

Yano hit a slingshot into the exposed buckle. The ref blocked Yano as he went for a low blow. Loa bumped Yano into the ref. Jado climbed in with a kendo stick. Yano got the kendo stick and threw Loa into the buckle, then threw the stick to Jado. 

Yano used the distraction to low blow Loa and schoolboy him for the pin.  

A Block: KENTA defeated Tomohiro Ishii (21:08)

This was very good and KENTA’s best match in quite some time.

KENTA tried to roll outside to stall, but Ishii dragged him back in and hit a tackle. KENTA again rolled outside. Ishii went after him and sent him into the barricade. KENTA hit Ishii with the bell to turn the tide in his favor. 

KENTA posted Ishii’s right arm and sent him into the barricade arm-first. Back in, KENTA continued to work over the right arm. KENTA exposed a buckle, but Ishii sent KENTA into the exposed steel. Ishii hammered away with chops and forearms in the corner. KENTA answered with a diving clothesline off the top.

KENTA caught Ishii coming in and tried for Game Over, but Ishii rolled to the ropes. Ishii got to the apron and teased a suplex to the floor, but KENTA hit a draping DDT. KENTA hit a running boot and a stalling dropkick. 

Ishii avoided a double stomp off the top and hit a German suplex into the buckle. They exchanged strikes. KENTA hit a clothesline, then connected with a double stomp off the top for a near fall. 

KENTA used Game Over. Ishii fought his way to the ropes after a long submission tease. Ishii blocked a penalty kick and dropped KENTA with a German suplex. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count. 

KENTA hit a short knee. Ishii escaped a GTS attempt and hit a lariat, but KENTA hit two Busaiku knees for a near fall. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes to the face. Ishii escaped a GTS and hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a two count at the 20 minute mark. 

Ishii went for the Vertical Drop. KENTA reversed into a GTS attempt. Ishii slid out and hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a lariat for another near fall. 

KENTA escaped a Vertical Drop attempt and rammed Ishii into the exposed turnbuckle, then used a schoolboy with the trunks for the flash pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Kota Ibushi (19:55)

This was Ibushi’s best match since his return. The G1 is turning into the Zack Sabre Jr. Invitational. 

Sabre broke cleanly after the opening lockup. Sabre escaped a head scissors on the mat and again broke cleanly. Ibushi tried to break cleanly after another lockup, but Sabre piefaced him. Ibushi swung and missed on a high kick as Sabre rolled to the floor to reset. 

Sabre reversed a whip, then tried a backslide, but Ibushi blocked. Ibushi missed on another high kick attempt as Sabre rolled out of the way. Ibushi went after Sabre’s left leg with a series of kicks. Sabre used a submission in the ropes to go after Ibushi’s left arm, then kicked the left arm on the break. 

Sabre continued to go after Ibushi’s left arm on the floor, hitting a stomp. Sabre kept up the arm work as Ibushi got back in. Ibushi came back with a striking combo, then hit a standing moonsault for a two count. 

Sabre hit another kick to the left arm, but Ibushi answered with a snap rana and a plancha. Ibushi escaped a submission attempt on the left arm by rolling to the ropes. Sabre hit a series of short kicks to the arm. Ibushi dropped Sabre with a mid kick. 

They traded kicks. Ibushi got the better of the strikes. Ibushi used a backslide to set up a lariat. Sabre hit a flying mid kick and a last ride. Sabre trapped the left arm, but Ibushi made the ropes for a break. 

Ibushi hit a German and a powerslam. Ibushi tried to go for a moonsault, but Sabre hit a kick to the legs to halt the attempt and Ibushi crashed to the mat. Sabre hit a PK and used a stack cover for a near fall. 

Sabre used an ankle lock. Ibushi broke the hold with a palm strike to the chest. Ibushi hit a Bomaye. 

Ibushi teased Kamigoye, but Sabre blocked and used Clarky Cat for the submission. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night six, Wednesday, September 29, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
  • B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
  • B Block: SANADA vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Taichi vs. EVIL

NJPW Strong spoilers: White vs. Eagles, new United Empire member

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW held the first night of their NJPW Strong Autumn Attack tapings on Saturday in Garland, Texas.

Here are results and notes on the finishes and a new United Empire member. 

Thanks to Steve Amodio & Steven Wright.

**********

Jay White defeated Robbie Eagles

White won by pinfall after hitting a Blade Runner.

Will Ospreay defeated Karl Fredericks 

TJP joined The United Empire after the match.

Minoru Suzuki defeated Fred Rosser

Suzuki won by pinfall with the Gotch-style piledriver.

Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero defeated Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson

Taguchi & Romero won with a rollup.

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor defeated Ren Narita 

Lawlor won by submission to retain the title. 

Hikuleo, Chris Bey, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defeated Juice Robinson, Lio Rush, Clark Connors & TJP

Hikuleo hit Juice with a bullrope to lead to the finish. They have a bullrope match tomorrow. 

Chris Dickinson defeated Alex Coughlin 

Dickinson won via submission with a cross armbreaker.

David Finlay defeated Yuya Uemura

Finlay won by submission.

Lucky Ali, Kevin Knight & The DKC defeated Jordan Clearwater, AJZ, & Will Allday

DKC won with a rollup.

**********

Here is Sunday’s announced lineup: 

NJPW Strong Autumn Attack night two, Sunday, September 26 —

  • Bullrope match: Juice Robinson vs. Hikuleo
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Tom Lawlor & Royce Isaacs
  • Lio Rush vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • Jay White vs. Daniel Garcia
  • Will Ospreay & X vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
  • Yuya Uemura vs. TJP
  • Robbie Eagles & Chris Dickinson vs. El Phantasmo & Chris Bey

NJPW Strong results: Fred Rosser vs. Ren Narita

Posted on by Justin Knipper

Yuji Nagata and Yuya Uemura defeated Kevin Knight and The DKC

Uemura and Knight kicked things off. Both will be huge deals in a matter of years, that’s clear. Kevin Kelly mentioned he thought Uemura reminded him of Tatsumi Fujinami a bit, which I’d have to agree with. Something unique about these two.

The DKC and Nagata were in together next. DKC was aggressive in going after Nagata and used lots of elbows in the corner. Nagata made him pay with an arm breaker. The crowd started chanting his name as he continued working over DKC’s arm. The audience being there gives the show a totally different flavor from what we’ve been used to.

DKC caught Uemura with a flying kick of the ropes. Knight was next and caught Uemura with white possibly the highest dropkick in the wrestling business right now. This guy is explosive.

The DKC incorporates a lot of karate-type strikes. He chopped Nagata up late in the match. Knight applied a Boston crab to Nagata but Uemura made the save. Nagata caught Knight with his Exploder suplex for a close two-count. He floated over into the Nagata Lock from there and tapped Knight moments later. Nagata and Uemura take home the win at 9:27. Great stuff.

Jay White defeated Wheeler Yuta

The crowd sounded like they were super into Jay White before this started. This was a really good pure wrestling match. When I write “pure,” I mean that aside from White’s occasional fishhooks, eye gouges and other dirty tactics, what made this good was how fluid and logical the work between the two was. It felt like a throwback in ways, with more athleticism. White looked huge next to Yuta.

Yuta scored a two-count with a high cross body off the top rope. White then pulled Yuta’s nose and hair to slam him back to the mat. The crowd sounded split between White and Yuta, but Yuta won some people over by the end. He scored three really close falls in a row on White. He then connected with a big German suplex, again for two. He locked White in a modified figure four STF but he let go to pull White away from the ropes. White escaped and spiked Yuta with a sleeper suplex. White put Yuta away after a Bladerunner at 10:29. This was a great “almost-an-upset” match.

Afterwards, White taunted the fans. He accused them of really being there to see Tomohiro Ishii instead of himself. White called Ishii out next and Ishii came to the ring. White said they could fight right then, but they weren’t going to. They butted heads and then White rolled out of the ring.

Before he exited, he addressed Ishii once more and asked if he had anything to say. Ishii said “F*** you.” The crowd started chanting it next. White got in Ishii’s face again and said Ishii would never get the NEVER title from him, so Ishii threw an elbow in his face. He went for a brainbuster next but White slipped out of it and low blowed him, then laid him out with a Bladerunner. “No, Ishii. F*** you.” The crowd chanted “F*** You Jay!” after he dropped the mic.

Ren Narita defeated Fred Rosser

This feud started at Resurgence last month after a six-man tag match both were in. They were on opposite teams, and afterwards Rosser went to shake Narita’s hand but Narita refused it and insisted he didn’t need Rosser’s respect.

They went hold for hold early on. Rosser tried dropping him on the apron early with a suplex but Narita had it scouted and blocked it. They started brawling around the ring next. Rosser dropped two vertical leg drops onto Narita, the latter one after running off the apron. This was a mean brawl. Nothing fancy or flashy, just two pissed dudes beating the hell out of each other.

The match slowed after it moved back into the middle of the ring. They tried tapping each other out with submission holds. Narita focused on Rosser’s knees and turned up the heat when he locked in a figure four leg lock. Rosser and Narita traded slaps to the face until Narita let go.

Rosser laid in tons of forearms, then scored a two-count with a BT bomb. Narita locked on a sleeper, then turned that into a cobra twist, or Antonio Inoki’s finisher. He almost tapped Rosser with his version of the Texas cloverleaf, a mix of that hold plus a Boston crab. Rosser barely escaped with a rope break.

Rosser powered up and earned a couple of near-falls but at the 15:00 mark, Narita tied Rosser up in a cradle and scored the pinfall. This is a big upset win for Narita, who is still technically a Young Lion. They were ambiguous selling Narita’s win afterwards and spun it like maybe, possibly Rosser got his shoulder up. The ref’s decision was final, though. Narita won. The two finally shook hands to close out the show.

Final thoughts:

This was an excellent episode of Strong. With the crowd in attendance and the bigger feel in general, plus the new presentation, it really emphasizes the “professional” aspect of “professional wrestling.” The main event was fantastic and if you haven’t seen it, go out of your way to. Fred Rosser has to be in the discussion for Most Improved, and Narita is confirming he’ll also be a big deal in the next few years with NJPW.

Moxley & Kingston vs. Suzuki & Archer added to NJPW Showdown

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston vs. Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer in a street fight has been added to NJPW Strong Showdown tapings in Philadelphia. 

Moxley and Kingston will face Suzuki and Archer on Sunday, October 17 at the 2300 Arena in a rematch from their Lights Out match on this week’s AEW Rampage Grand Slam show. 

The match will be taped for a later episode of NJPW Strong, which airs Saturday’s at 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. 

Tickets are on sale now for both nights of the tapings in Philadelphia. 

Here are the matches announced so far: 

NJPW Strong Showdown, Saturday, October 16, 7 p.m. Eastern time, 2300 Arena in Phiadelphia —

  • Jay White vs. Fred Yehi
  • Juice Robinson vs. El Phantasmo
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Chris Dickinson

NJPW Strong Showdown, Sunday, October 17, 5 p.m. Eastern time, 2300 Arena in Phiadelphia —

  • Street fight: Jon Moxley& Eddie Kingston vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer
  • Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, Rocky Romero, Ren Narita & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, JR  Kratos, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson & Danny Limelight
  • Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Coughlin
  • Will Ospreay vs. Alex Zayne

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night four results: Okada vs. EVIL

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Jeff Cob vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens

Report —

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto (14:10)

This was two veterans working a very good opener. They didn’t kick out of a bunch of finishers or do countout teases, they kept the match in the ring and left you wanting more.  

Tanahashi took virtually all of the offense in the first ten minutes. 

Tana dominated a chain wrestling sequence at the outset. Goto got one brief hope spot with his wheel kick and bulldog out of the corner, but Tana used a deathlock, a senton and strikes to maintain control. 

Tanahashi hit a somersault senton for a two count. They did a great series of misdirection spots as Goto hit a lariat, then Tana hit a dropkick to the legs. Goto started to come back with a top rope neckbreaker. 

Tana avoided a top rope superplex and tried to turn it into a sunset bomb, but Goto slid out. Tanahashi blocked Shouten Kai and hit slingblade. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. Goto rolled out of the way of a second High Fly Flow, allowing him to hit a lariat to the back of Tanahashi’s head. 

Tanahashi hit a palm strike to the face, but Goto countered with a headbutt and an inverted GTR for a near fall. 

Tana reversed a GTR attempt into an inside cradle for the flash pin. 

B Block: Tama Tonga defeated Chase Owens (12:59)

This was much better than you might expect. 

They began with a solid back and forth technical wrestling battle. Each avoided the other’s finisher. 

After exchanging holds, they turned to a more traditional brawling style. Owens used a hip toss into a neckbreaker, a flurry of strikes and a Jewel Heist for a near fall. Tama came back and hit a Tongan Twist. 

Owens used a tiger driver for another near fall. Tama blocked a jumping knee. Owens connected on another v-trigger. 

Owens went for the package driver, but Tama hit a great reversal into the Gun Stun and got the pin. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated YOSHI-HASHI (13:21)

YH low-bridged Cobb to the floor and sent him into the barricade. Cobb cut YH off with a huge shoulder tackle as they got back in. Cobb hit a dropkick and a delayed vertical throw. YH answered with a dragon screw as he looked to take out Cobb’s base. 

YH tried a sunset flip, but Cobb blocked. YH teased a powerbomb, but Cobb launched him into orbit on a backdrop. Cobb hit a series of strikes in the corner, then used a belly-to-belly and a spin cycle for a two count. 

Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. YH came back and hit a snap dragon suplex, then hit a lariat for a two count. Cobb blocked another powerbomb. YH hit a thrust kick, then a Canadian destroyer for another near fall. YH hit a meteora for a two count. 

YH used the butterfly lock to set up a Kharma attempt, but Cobb blocked. Cobb hit a snap German suplex. They traded thrust kicks. YH blocked two Tour of the Islands attempts, then rolled Cobb up for a two count. 

Cobb hit a spear, then ended things with Tour of the Islands and a pin. 

B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated SANADA (25:15)

The small crowd and their inability to be vocal due to the pandemic restrictions really hurt this match. They didn’t help themselves by starting really slowly, but they were working hard once they got into the near falls and it was as though they were wrestling in an empty building. 

They opened with a quick chain wrestling sequence, then they tried to work the crowd with some pec popping. The referee didn’t sell the pec pop battle and they just dropped the idea. 

Taichi used a kitchen sink, then used a variety of rest holds. SANADA came back with a dropkick to the left knee and a plancha. Taichi hit a high kick. SANADA went back to the legs with a dropkick, then hit a magic screw. 

Taichi avoided a TKO and tried for a stretch plum, but SANADA blocked. Taichi no-sold a tiger driver and hit a backdrop suplex. Both stumbled out of the ring, selling. Kind of a goofy spot. They did a double countout tease, then a double down once they beat the count back in. 

They traded strikes. Taichi blocked Skull End. SANADA blocked a chokeslam. Taichi blocked an O’Connor roll. SANADA kicked out of a Gedo clutch. SANADA missed a moonsault into another double down. 

SANADA used a moonsault to try to set up Skull End, but Taichi blocked. SANADA blocked Balck Mephisto, but Taichi hit a gamengiri and a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Taichi kicked out of an O’Connor roll. 

Taichi avoided another moonsault, then hit a forearm and Black Mephisto for the pin.

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (21:46)

NJPW has doubled down on EVIL and this version of the character is killing every show he’s on. The Bullet Club House of Torture is just that. Okada is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live, but even he can’t make a match with 2021 EVIL work. 

EVIL rolled outside and immediately stalled. Togo exposed a buckle. They brawled to the floor, where EVIL sent Okada into the barricade. The ring announcer took his first bump. Okada made a quick comeback with a back elbow and a DDT after EVIL missed a charge into the exposed buckle. 

EVIL rolled back to the floor and again sent Okada into the barricade and the ring announcer. While the ref checked on the announcer, EVIL hit Okada with a chair. EVIL tried a running kick with Okada seated on the chair, but Okada hit a drop toe hold on the chair. 

Back in, Okada avoided a misdirection lariat and hit a dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip, but EVIL reached the ropes. Okada hit the Rainmaker pose, but EVIL used interference from Togo to cut him off. Togo used a chair on Okada while EVIL took the ref. EVIL hit a tackle for a near fall. 

EVIL hit a superplex and tried a pin while grabbing the trunks, but Okada kicked out. Okada fought off Everything is EVIL and used a cradle for a two count. 

Okada hit a short Rainmaker. EVIL ducked under a second Rainmaker, but Okada nailed him with a dropkick and a spinning tombstone. Okada went for another Rainmaker, but EVIL pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump. EVIL hit a low blow. 

EVIL revived the ref. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL, but Okada reversed into a Money Clip attempt. Before he got the hold applied, EVIL bumped the ref again as Red Shoes rolled to the floor. 

Togo jumped in and hit Okada with a series of right hands. Okada fought off a Magic Killer and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Togo. 

Red Shoes was revived. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Okada blocked a lariat and hit EVIL with Everything is EVIL. 

Okada hit a sit-out tombstone and another Rainmaker for the pin. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night five, Sunday, September 26, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
  • A Block: Toru Yano vs. Tanga Loa
  • A Block: Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Master Wato vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night three results: Shingo vs. Sabre

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Zack Sabre Jr. face off in the main event, while Kota Ibushi took on Tomohiro Ishii in the semi-main. 

Tanga Loa earned two points by way of Tetsuya Naito forfeiting their G1 match due to injury. Instead of a tournament bout, Loa faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match in the opener.

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sare Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Report —

Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yuji Nagata (15:35)

This was a good opener. Nagata was moving well today and everything they did made sense. 

After some chain wrestling, Loa used a right hand to the throat to take over. He hit an axe handle off the apron to the floor and sent Nagata into the barricade. 

Loa maintained the advantage with brawling offense in the ring. Loa used a blue thunder bomb for a two count, then used a chinlock. Nagata fought back with punches and a kitchen sink. 

Nagata began working on Loa’s legs with kicks and a dropkick to the knee, then used a butterfly suplex for a two count. Nagata used a heel hook, but Loa forced a rope break. 

Loa hit a flatliner and slapped on the OJK. Nagata escaped the hold and used an ankle lock. Nagata grapevined the legs, but Loa crawled to the ropes. Nagata hit some more kicks to the leg and an exploder suplex. 

Loa hit a hotshot across the top rope, then used a spear and a powerslam for a two count. Nagata escaped Apesh*t and hit a German. Loa rolled through on landing, but Nagata hit another kick for a near fall. 

Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Loa answered with an immediate lariat and hit Apesh*t for the pin. 

A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Toru Yano (11:30)

These two had a blood feud earlier this year where Yano tied O-Khan’s hair to the barricade and O-Khan was forced to cut one of his braids off to escape. O-Khan also tried to stab Yano with scissors at some point. O-Khan saved the braid that was cut off six months ago and brandished it as Yano made his entrance. 

I appreciate the continuity here, but the match was hot garbage.

O-Khan attacked Yano as he entered and choked him with the braid. O-Khan pounded on Yano and used an Anaconda Vice. Yano forced a rope break. 

Yano sprayed hand sanitizer in O-Khan’s eyes. O-Khan produced a pair of handcuffs. Yano exposed a buckle. They fought over the corner pad. O-Khan bumped the ref with the corner pad. Yano hit a dragon screw and wrestled the corner pad away. 

Yano tried to cuff O-Khan to the barricade, but O-Khan reversed and cuffed Yano to the barricade. Yano freed himself by prying the barricade apart and beat the count back in. 

O-Khan fought off two cradle attempts and hit the Eliminator for the pin. 

Yano hit a low blow after the match and ran to the back. O-Khan chased after him with a chair, so this feud must continue. 

A Block: KENTA defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (15:48)

KENTA is smart and picks his spots for when to work hard. Tonight was not one of those spots.  

I will always pop for Kevin Kelly explaining Pieter’s interpretive dance.

Yujiro and Pieter both refused Too Sweet hand gestures from KENTA. 

They brawled in slow-motion. Yujiro gained the upper hand as they fought to the floor. Yujiro danced in front of Pieter. KENTA hit a DDT on the floor and could have won by countout, but threw Yujiro back in. 

KENTA hit some stomps and mocked Yujiro’s dancing. KENTA hit some kicks and used a front facelock. Yujiro fought back with strikes and a sliding dropkick. KENTA answered with a DDT and a diving clothesline off the top for a two count. 

KENTA used an STF. Yujiro forced a break. Yujiro avoided one double stomp off the top, but KENTA hit it on his second try and earned a near fall. 

Yujiro reversed a GTS into a DDT. Yujiro hit an Angle slam and Miami Shine for a pair of two counts. KENTA used a jackknife and a rollup for two near falls of his own. 

KENTA hit a Busaiku knee. Yujiro blocked GTS and tried a low blow, but KENTA caught the arm and used it to set up Game Over for the submission.  

They made amends and hugged and did the Too Sweet after the match. 

***** 

A PSA for saving lions aired with Togi Makabe and a player from the Seibu Lions. This was the best thing on the show to this point. 

*****

A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (17:42)

If these guys wrestled ten times, they would probably have a better match than this one nine of those times. I’m giving this a mild recommendation because of who these guys are, but this was not the classic you would expect. 

Ibushi tried to break cleanly against the ropes of the opening collar and elbow, but Ishii slapped him across the face. Ibushi kipped up after a shoulder tackle, but Ishii took him down with another tackle. 

Ibushi got dropped with a forearm strike. Ishii hammered away with chops, dropping Ibushi against the ropes. They had a slap fight, then Ibushi scored his first significant offense of the match with a mid kick at the five minute mark. 

Ibushi sent Ishii outside with a snap rana. He followed with a plancha, then a powerslam and a moonsault as the fight returned to the ring. Ishii answered with a backdrop suplex. Ishii no-sold a dropkick and hit a diving shoulder tackle. 

Ishii hit a delayed superplex for a two count. Ishii missed with an enzuigiri. Ibushi missed on a standing moonsault and almost landed on the top of his head. Ishii missed a sliding lariat. Ibushi hit a mid kick into a double down. 

They traded strikes. Ibushi ducked under a lariat and hit a German suplex. Ishii sprawled to avoid a last ride attempt. They traded strikes. Ibushi hit a lariat into another double down. 

Ibushi hit a powerbomb for a two count. Ibushi called for the Kamigoye, but Ishii fought it off. Ibushi hit a head kick, but Ishii immediately countered with a headbutt into another double down. 

Ibushi kicked away a lariat, but Ishii hit a clubbing forearm and a German. Ibushi landed on his feet out of the suplex, but then was dropped with a clothesline. Ishii hit another lariat and Ibushi took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count. 

Ibushi slid out of a Vertical Drop Brainbuster attempt and hit a high kick. Ishii blocked Kamigoye and hit a clothesline. Ibushi missed a v-trigger. Ishii tried a lariat, but Ibushi blocked with a v-trigger. 

Ibushi hit two Kamigoyes and scored the pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi (27:17)

Great psychology in this match. Shingo worked on Sabre’s right leg, while Sabre worked on Shingo’s right arm the entire match. Sabre won out. 

Sabre avoided an early lariat attempt. They traded arm drags and each escaped from holds on the mat. Shingo missed a sliding lariat, but hit a shoulder tackle and Sabre rolled outside. Shingo teased a dive, but did Naito’s Tranquilo pose instead. 

Shingo missed on a senton and Sabre used a neck twist. Shingo rolled outside to collect himself, but Sabre went right after him and threw him back in to keep the pressure on. 

Sabre blocked a hip toss and used a cobra twist. Shingo fought out and hit a DDT. Shingo hit a clothesline in the corner, then turned to chops. Sabre blocked a chop, avoided a DVD, then used an octopus hold in the ropes. 

Sabre began to attack the right arm. Shingo caught a PK and hit a dragon screw. Sabre blocked a sliding lariat and twisted on the right arm with his legs. Sabre stomped on the right arm. Shingo hit noshigami and a diving forearm strike to Sabre’s right leg. 

Sabre used a triangle choke. Shingo hit a powerbomb out of the hold, then used an inverted STF. Sabre forced a break. Sabre blocked Made in Japan and hit a German, but Shingo rolled through and answered with his own. 

Sabre blocked multiple lariat attempts with the right arm with kicks. Shingo kicked at Sabre’s right leg and hit a sliding lariat. Sabre used a cradle and a Euro clutch for two near falls. Sabre hit a PK, but Shingo popped right up and hit a lariat. 

Sabre cut Shingo off as he went for a superplex and used a wristlock. Sabre hit a swing DDT, then hit a La Mistica. Sabre transitioned to the Clarky Cat submission hold just past the 20 minute mark. Shingo rolled to the ropes to force the break. 

Sabre wrenched on the right arm. He blocked a pop-up DVD attempt and tried a guillotine, but Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Sabre blocked a Pumping Bomber and hit the Zack Driver for a near fall. 

Sabre hit a series of elbows to the neck. Shingo ate all of them and powered through to finally hit the DVD he had been trying to land all match. Sabre escaped a choke. Shingo blocked a PK and turned it into Made in Japan for a near fall at the 25 minute call. 

Shingo hit the Pumping Bomber, but sold the work to his right arm and could not follow with a cover. Sabre blocked Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit a right hand, then tried Last of the Dragon again. Sabre blocked with a choke. 

Sabre switched to a crucifix hold, then slipped to a triangle choke. Shingo tried to power out, but Sabre kept the hold applied and Shingo tapped out. 

Sabre taunted Shingo with the IWGP World title after the match. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night four, Friday, September 24, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
  • B Block: SANADA vs. Taichi
  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb
  • B Block: Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto

Four matches added to NJPW Showdown events

Posted on by Josh Nason

NEVER Openweight Champion Jay White will take on Fred Yehi at NJPW Showdown, one of four new matches added to the two nights of Strong tapings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 16th and 17th.

White and Yehi will do battle in a non-title match on night one.

The other night one match will see Juice Robinson take on El Phantasmo. Robinson has been feuding with the Bullet Club as of late, both in NJPW and Impact Wrestling.

Night two will feature former ROH Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Coughlin as part of Coughlin’s recent open challenge series. The match will mark Gresham’s return to an NJPW ring for the first time since 2019’s Super J Cup.

A ten-man tag team match has also been added to night two as NJPW Strong Champion Tom Lawlor will team with JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson and Danny Limelight against Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, Rocky Romero, Ren Narita and The DKC.

NJPW Showdown night one | Saturday, October 16

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Chris Dickinson
  • Jay White vs. Fred Yehi
  • Juice Robinson vs. El Phantasmo

NJPW Showdown night two | Sunday, October 17

  • Will Ospreay vs. Alex Zayne
  • Alex Coughlin vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson and Danny Limelight vs. Fred Rosser, Karl Fredericks, Rocky Romero, Ren Narita and The DKC

Tetsuya Naito out of NJPW G1 Climax due to knee injury

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: NJPW

One of NJPW’s top stars is out of this year’s G1 Climax.

NJPW has announced that Tetsuya Naito will miss the remainder of G1 Climax 31 due to suffering an injury to his left knee. The injury happened in Naito’s match against Zack Sabre Jr. during the opening night of the G1 on September 18. Naito suffered damage to his left meniscus and MCL.

With Naito unable to compete, he’ll forfeit his remaining tournament matches. The opponents that he was supposed to face will automatically gain two points.

NJPW noted that Naito currently doesn’t have a timetable to return.

Naito’s scheduled opponents will instead wrestle in special singles matches on the nights that they were supposed to face him. The matches will be against wrestlers who aren’t in the tournament. Here’s the schedule of those matches:

  • September 23 (G1 Climax 31 night three): Tanga Loa vs. Yuji Nagata
  • September 26: G1 Climax 31 night five): Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • September 30: G1 Climax 31 night seven): Yujiro Takahashi vs. BUSHI
  • October 3: G1 Climax 31 night nine): Toru Yano vs. BUSHI
  • October 7: G1 Climax 31 night 11): KENTA vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • October 9: G1 Climax 31 night 13): Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • October 13: G1 Climax 31 night 15): Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • October 18: G1 Climax 31 night 17): The Great-O-Khan vs. Satoshi Kojima

Naito was part of the A Block in the G1. He lost to Sabre in their tournament match.

Night three of the G1 will take place at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo this Thursday. The tournament runs through October 21, when the finals will be held at Budokan Hall.